The European Privacy Association (EPA) is a Brussels-based lobbying group, founded in 2009.[1] Its stated goal is "to enhance data protection and Internet freedom as fundamental principles of democracy."[2] As of 2013, Karin Riis-Jørgensen is chairwoman of the EPA.[3] Former EP member Pat Cox is among its founders.[1]

EU lobbying watchdog Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO) has asserted that EPA "is working to represent industry interests in the debate on data protection in Europe" and "to promote industry-friendly legislation" as a front group for the IT industry.[4] It has been called an example of an astroturfing organisation that "disguises as an independent thinktank".[1] EPA's Policy and Scientific Committee director, Paolo Balboni, has denied the astroturfing allegation in a letter to the editor of the Financial Times.[5]

In 2013, CEO filed a complaint against EPA because the association had not listed any corporate sponsors in the EU Transparency Register, claiming that it had only ten natural persons as members; EPA then admitted that Microsoft, Google and Yahoo are among its members.[4][6] According to EPA, the Transparency Register closed the case in June 2013.[7] The organisation changed its status in the Transparency Register from "Think-tank" to the "Trade, business & professional associations", because a think-tank is not allowed to have corporate members.[8]

Research

EPA members have published a number of scientific papers in international law journals.[9]

Privacy by Design & Anonymisation Techniques in Action: Case Study of Ma3tch Technology Balboni, P. & Macenaite, M. (2013) Privacy by design and anonymisation techniques in action: case study of Ma3tch technology, Computer Law & Security Review: The International Journal of Technology Law and Practice 29 (2013), pp. 330–340.

Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) Activities in the Cloud Environment: A European Legal Perspective. Balboni, P., & Pelino, E. (2013). Law enforcement agencies' activities in the cloud environment: a European legal perspective. Information & Communications Technology Law, 22(2), 165-‐190. doi: 10.1080/13600834.2013.821812

Legitimate Interest of the Data Controller New Data Protection Paradigm[dead link] Legitimacy Grounded on Appropriate Protection* Paolo Balboni; Daniel Cooper; Rosario Imperiali; Milda Macenaite. International Data Privacy Law 2013; doi: 10.1093/idpl/ipt019

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Tomas Vanheste (October 10, 2013). "Hoe een machtige lobby onze privacy onder druk zet". De Correspondent (in Dutch). Retrieved October 11, 2013.
  2. ^ "Mission". European Privacy Association - EPA. Archived from the original on 23 August 2013. Retrieved 10 August 2013.
  3. ^ "Executive Board". European Privacy Association - EPA. Archived from the original on 7 August 2013. Retrieved 10 August 2013.
  4. ^ a b c "Google, Microsoft, and Yahoo are secret backers behind European Privacy Association". PCWorld. 20 May 2013. Retrieved 10 August 2013.
  5. ^ Paolo Balboni (1 July 2013). "'Astroturfing' does not describe EPA". Financial Times.
  6. ^ James Fontanella-Khan (June 26, 2013). "Brussels: Astroturfing takes root". Financial Times.
  7. ^ "Agenda". European Privacy Association - EPA. Archived from the original on 2013-08-23. Retrieved 2013-09-04.
  8. ^ "European Privacy Association - EPA". Archived from the original on 2013-08-23. Retrieved 2013-09-04.
  9. ^ "European Privacy Association - EPA". Archived from the original on 2013-08-24. Retrieved 2013-09-04.
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